(Editor’s note: BDCC photos of Cynthia and Ricky Pearson were not available.)

State Fire Marshal (SFM) deputies have arrested three Mississippi residents for their roles in an insurance fraud scheme involving a fire at an abandoned church.

Cynthia Pearson, 66, and Ricky Pearson, 65, both from Jackson, Miss., were booked into Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center (BDCC) Friday, February 16. Both were arrested on one count each of Arson with Intent to Defraud and Criminal Conspiracy.

Shawn Burton, 52 of Jackson, Miss., was booked into BDCC back in August 2023 on one count each of Simple Arson of a Religious Building, Simple Burglary and Criminal Conspiracy.

Minden Fire Chief Brian Williams said it had been a long investigation, and “we just want to extend our thanks to the Louisiana Office of the State Fire Marshal investigators for following through with the investigation and making the arrests.”

Williams said SFM kept his department informed throughout the investigation but much of the information could not and still can’t be released.

“It was extensive, and it is still ongoing with their office,” he said.

In April 2023, Minden Fire Department responded to Grace Tabernacle located in the 500 block of Constable Street for a report of a fire. The church was without utilities and had not been in use for several months. Suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire led to a request for the SFM to investigate its origin and cause.

Through extensive investigative efforts, SFM deputies and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined the fire was intentionally set and identified Burton as a suspect in the case. Following his arrest in August, continued investigative efforts led to arrest warrants for the Pearsons, who own the facility.

Thanks to the assistance of the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Pearsons were taken into custody on Feb. 16.

This investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information that can assist deputies with this case is asked to submit tips through our Arson Hotline at 1-844-954-1221 or online at lasfm.org. All tips can be submitted anonymously.

The SFM would like to thank the Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office and the ATF for their assistance with this case.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.